New GED test reflects state need for capable work force

SANTA CRUZ -- The national high school equivalency test, the GED, has changed considerably this year, in an attempt to create a more capable work force.

Now administered online, the new program tests not only critical thinking, but also college and career readiness.

"High school equivalency is great, but it's not enough to keep up with what most jobs are requiring," said C.T. Turner, senior director of public affairs for GED Testing Service, the adult education organization that offers the test.

California has more low-skilled workers than jobs, according to a study by the National Skills Coalition, a Washington-based advocacy group. Yet jobs that require more than a high school diploma and less than a four-year degree make up the largest part of the market, and the state doesn't have the workers to fill them.

Passing the test should not be more difficult, said Turner, since the pass/fail mark is still tied to average high school senior performance.

What's different is the testing content, aligned with national standards for adult and K-12 education, which emphasizes higher-order thinking.

The new score report gives feedback on 115 academic areas, such as fractions or rational numbers, instead of the broad percentile rank with the old test.

This specific feedback now only allows students to focus on their weaknesses, but also informs potential colleges and employers, said Turner.

Hermanita Clark, GED chief examiner at Santa Cruz Adult School, said a GED is a bare minimum not only to find a job, but sometimes keep one.

A GED allows workers to gain promotions, enroll in vocational training such as nurse assistant classes, and qualify for financial aid at community colleges, she said.

Santa Cruz resident Jose Perez passed the GED in October, after taking a preparatory class at the adult school. He dropped out of Soquel High in 2004, five credits short of graduation.

"I just kind of gave up," Perez said. "I was never going to make it."

Since then, he has worked a series of part-time jobs to support his two children. To save money, they live in his parents' mobile home.

"My first son, I didn't get to see him because I worked three jobs on minimum wage," said Perez. "Then I found out my wife was pregnant with a second one. I realized I had to do something about it and soon."

That's when Perez decided to get a GED. Now he's enrolled at Cabrillo College, where he's pursuing an associate degree in engineering technology.

"I have a dream to buy a house where my kids can play in the backyard and feel a little more safe," he said.

Perez, who works part time as a dishwasher in Scotts Valley, said he can't accomplish anything on minimum wage.

"Even with a college degree, you still struggle a little in Santa Cruz," Perez said.

Turner, from the GED testing service, said the changes were driven by what GED graduates need to be successful in today's job market.